Hand-hold assembly



Oct. 19, 1965 Filed Jan. 6,

F. J. RUSSELL ETAL HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRED J. RUSSELL.

P/QUL 1 eocco BY AT'TOQN EYS United States Patent 3,212,305 HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY Fred J. Russell, 8635 this St., South Gate, Calif and Paul Cirocco, Bellflower, Calif.; said 'Cirocco assignor to said Russell Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 335,769 3 Claims. (Cl. 70224) The invention relates to door locks with special reference to that part of the door lock which is located on the outside of the door, namely a hand-hold or knob, a spindle to which the knob is attached, and a key-operated lock mechanism mounted within the knob and the spindle.

In a door lock of the type here under consideration, it is desirable for a number of reasons to be able to remove and replace the hand-hold or door knob upon the lock while the lock remains in position on the door. This has been accomplished in the past by employment of a keeper device extending transversely with respect to the length of the spindle through the wall of the knob while at the same time being in engagement with the spindle, so that the knob is held nonrotatably attached to the spindle. Sundry spring means have been devised for holding the keeper in engaged position, subject to being depressed, for release of the knob. Where the lock is to be a key-operated lock, the common approach has been to make only the inside knob removable as described. It is undesirable to have the outside knob removable, because that would give unauthorized persons access to the interior of the lock so as to manipulate it into unlocked position. This is expressly true of locks wherein the keyoperated mechanism is contained within the knob and wherein its is adapted to be drawn outwardly through the face of the knob when a new one is to be substituted, as in rekeying the lock.

When the lock is to be rekeyed by a change in the keyoperated mechanism, it is preferable that removal and replacement of the key-operated mechanism not be hampered by an accompanying need for removing and replacing the knob.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved keeper means of such construction with relation to the remaining parts on the exterior of the device that the key-operated mechanism must be removed before the knob can be removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved keeper means associated with the key-operated mechanism in such fashion that irrespective of how the key-operated mechanism may be manipulated during the usual locking and unlocking operations, the keeper cannot be manipulated to release the knob for removal until the key-operated mechanism is manipulated by a removal key and physically removed from the hand-hold, after which the knob can then be removed through release of the keeper.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lock device wherein a key-operated mechanism is adapted to be removed through the face of the knob and which is so constructed that the knob cannot be removed from its nonrotatable position with respect to the spindle until the key-operated mechanism has been withdrawn outwardly through the face of the knob.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view of the device partially broken away showing all of the parts in assembled position.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal view partially broken away taken on a line ninety degrees removed with respect to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the key-operated mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but wherein the key-operated mechanism has been rotated in a normal manner for locking or unlocking operation.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the condition of the key-operated mechanism to which it has been moved by a removal key preparatory to removal of the key-operated mechanism from the spindle and hand-hold.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the corresponding position of the keyway when it has been rotated to the position shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional View looking in the same direction as in FIGURE 2, but with the keyoperated mechanism entirely removed.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URES 3 and 6 showing the manner in which the'keeper can be depressed after removal of the key-operated mechanism, thus permitting removal of the knob.

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view with both the key-operated mechanism and the hand-hold removed.

In one embodiment of the invention herein selected as an illustration, there is shown a hand-hold or knob 10 cross-sectional view on the line 44 provided with a neck 11 rotatably mounted upon a stationary bearing 12 which is part of a mounting assembly indicated generally by the reference character 13 and is a means by which the lock is attached to a door (not shown). An annular trim ring 14 extends around the inner end of the neck 11. Rotatably mounted within the bearing 12 is a spindle 15 which protrudes outwardlyto a location near a front face 16 of the knob 10.

Although the neck 11 is spaced from the spindle 15 by the thickness of the bearing 12 and is rotationally supported upon the bearing 12, the knob 10 is secured nonrotationally to the spindle 15, so that the spindle 15 is rotated by the knob 10. This is accomplished by employment of a keeper 17. The keeper is a substantially flat element, the configuration of which can be readily observed in FIGURES 3, 6, and 10. In the spindle 15 are openings 18 and 19, and the keeper 17 is slidably mounted in the openings 18 and 19 for limited movement in a direction transverse to the long dimension of the spindle 15. Another opening 20 in the neck 11 receives an outer end 21 of the keeper 17. In this way, the keeper 17,

JD being in engagement simultaneously with the spindle 15 and the neck 11, interconnects the knob and the spindle so that when the knob 10 is rotated, it rotates the spindle 15.

To normally urge the outer end 21 of the keeper 17 outwardly into engaged relationship within the opening 20, an arcuate spring device 22 is employed. The form of the arcuate spring device 22 is shown to good advantage in FIGURES 3, 6, and 10, where legs 23 and 24 extend around the exterior of the spindle 15. A small end 25 of the keeper 17 is located in a hole 26 in the arcuate spring device 22. By this construction, the arcuate spring device 22 has better control over reciprocating action of the keeper 17. In the main portion of the keeper 17 is a circular. hole 27 which, in the normal extended position of the keeper 17, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, for example, is in axial alignment with the center of the spindle 15.

A key-operated mechanism is illustrated generally by the reference character 30, andconsists of a housing 31 on one side of which is a pin tumbler housing 32. A split ring 33, extending around the outer end of the spindle 15, serves as a means of centrally locating the spindle 15 with respect to the knob 10 and its front face 16. In practice, the front face 16 is provided with an irregular aperture 34, having substantially the same shape and configuration as the combined housing 31 and pin tumbler housing 32. have in cross-section, the shape of which is clearly shown in FIGURES 5 and 8. A slit 35 is made of such size and shape that it also accommodates a portion of the pin tumbler housing 32 where it joins the housing 31.

In assembled position as shown, the housing 31 of the key-operated mechanism 30 is located within a space 36 within the spindle 15. A key plug 40 is rotatably mounted in the housing 31 and-is provided with a keyway 41 of substantially conventional form. Extending from the inner endof the key plug 40 is a tailpiece 42 which is a relatively fiat element, the cross-sectional shape of which is clearly shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 6, and 7. The tailpiece 42 extends a relatively substantial distance through the circular hole 27. in the keeper 17 and forms a non-rotational part of the key plug 40.

In this particular form of the invention, there is provided on the spindle 15 a cutout 43 forming a shoulder 44 which faces inwardly. Forming part of the key-operated mechanism 30 is a cam 45 which forms a part of the key plug 40 and is adapted to extend outwardly through an opening in the housing 31, so as to present a complementary shoulder 46 adapted to engage against the shoulder 44 on the spindle 15. The cam 45, attached to a sleeve (not shown) which surrounds the key plug, is rotatable a limited distance relative to the key plug when certain tumblers (not shown) are shifted to release position by use of a special key. Reference is made to a more detailed disclosure of the cam 45'and its operation appearing in co-pending application Serial No. 283,388, filed May 27, 1963, now Patent No. 3,190,091.

In order to manipulate the cam 45, use is made of a special removal key (not shown) which is adapted to rotate the key plug 40 and the cam 45, together, far enough to extend the cam 45 outwardly to a position where the shoulders 44 and 46 are engaged to retain the key-operated mechanism within the spindle 15 and to rotate the key plug 40 and the cam 45, together, until the shoulders 44 and 46 are disengaged from each other, to enable removal of the key-operated mechanism 30 from within the spindle 15 and from within the knob 10. As long as the key-operated mechanism 30 remains in place, the key plug 40 can be manipulated by a conventional key (not shown) inserted into the keyway 41 to rotate the key plug 40 to any one of a number of different positions as suggested in FIGURES 3, 4, 6, and 7, but which does not, at the same, time, rotate cam 45. Irrespective of what the position of rotation may be of the key plug 40, and consequently of the tailpiece 42, movement of the keeper 17 will be blocked. This occurs because the tailpiece 42 extends well through the circular hole 27, and since the circular hole 27 is only slightly greater in diameter than the breadth of the tailpiece 42, the wall of the circular hole 27 will always be forced against some portion of the tailpiece 42 and thus will block movement of the keeper 17, irrespective of the position of rotation of the tailpiece 42. Therefore, as long as the key-operated mechanism remains in assembled position, the knob 10 cannot be removed from the lock because the keeper 17 cannot be depressed out of the opening 20 in the neck 11.

In order to remove the knob 10, the key-operated mechanism must be removed. This is accomplished by again making use of the special removal key (not shown) which is inserted in the keyway 41 and then rotated so as to withdraw the cam 45 into the pin tumbler housing 32 and, as a consequence, withdraw engagement of the shoulder 46 from the shoulder 44. Thereupon, the key-operated mechanism 30 can then be drawn outwardly through the front face 16 of the knob 10, which withdrawal removes the tailpiece 42 from its position in the circular hole 27. When this has been accomplished, the keeper 17 can be depressed by means of some appropriate tool, such as a screw driver end 47 as shown in FIGURE 10, until it clears the inside wall of the neck 11 whereupon the knob 10 can be removed from the bearing 12. Thereafter, spring action of the arcuate spring device 22 will move the keeper 17 back to its initial position.

When the knob 10 is to be again reapplied, the keeper 17 is pressed again into the position shown in FIGURE 10, whereupon the neck 11 can he slid over it until the opening 20, coincides with the location of the outer end 21 of the keeper 17 at which location the action of the arcuate spring device 22 will press the outer end 21 outwardly through the opening 20 and again interlock the knob 10 non-rotatably with the spindle 15. The keyoperated mechanism 30 can then be reapplied, and the device will again be readyfor operation as before, but with the knob 10 not removable while the key-operated mechanism is in place within the spindle 15.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock comprising a hand-hold assembly which includes a hand-hold, a hollow spindle positioned within said hand-hold, and a key-operated mechanism positioned within said hollow spindle, a retaining shoulder within said hand-hold assembly, a key plug rotatably mounted in said key-operated mechanism, cam means operably associated with said key-operated mechanism and responsive to operation by a key, said cam means being extendable into engagement with said retaining shoulder whereby to retain said key-operated mechanism in releasable engagement within said hand-hold assembly and alternatively enabling release of said key-operated mechanism from said retaining shoulder for removal from said hand-hold assembly, a keeper movably mounted in said spindle, a cutout on said hand-hold, a portion of said keeper extending into engagement with said cutout whereby to retain said hand-hold in releasable engagement with said spindle, a portion of said key plug being in blocking engagement with said keeper while said key-operated mechanism is located within said hand-hold assembly whereby to inhibit removal of said hand-hold except when said key-operated mechanism is removed from said hand-hold assembly.

2. In a lock comprising a hand-hold assembly which includes a hand-hold, a hollow spindle positioned within said hand-hold, and a key-operated mechanism positioned within said hollow spindle, a retaining shoulder within said hand-hold assembly, said hand-hold having an opening at the outer end through which the key-operated mechanism is adapted to be drawn, a key plug rotatably mounted in said key-operated mechanism, cam means operably associated with said key-operated mechanism and responsive to operation by a key, said cam means being extendable into engagement with said retaining shoulder Whereby to retain said key-operated mechanism in releasable engagement within said hand-hold assembly and alternatively enabling release of said key-operated mechanism from said retaining shoulder for removal from said handhold assembly through the outer end of said hand-hold, a keeper movably mounted in said spindle, a cutout on said hand-hold, one end of said keeper extending into engagement with said cutout, means acting between said keeper and said spindle whereby to retain said hand-hold in releasable engagement with said spindle, a portion of said key plug being in blocking engagement with said keeper while said key-operated mechanism is located within said handhold assembly whereby to inhibit removal of said handhold except when said key-operated mechanism is removed from said hand-hold assembly.

3. In a lock comprising a hand-hold having a neck portion, a hollow spindle within said hand-hold having a retaining shoulder thereon, and a key-operated mechanism mounted in said spindle, said hand-hold having an opening at the outer end through which the key-operated mechanism is adapted to be drawn, a key plug rotatably mounted in said key-operated mechanism, cam means operably associated with said key-operated mechanism and responsive to operation by a removal key, said cam means being extendable from said key-operated mechanism into engagement with said retaining shoulder whereby to retain said key-operated mechanism in releasable engagement with said spindle and alternatively enabling release of said key-operated mechanism from said retaining shoulder for removal from said spindle through the outer end of said hand-hold, a keeper movably mounted in a cross ways direction in said spindle, an opening in said neck, one end of said keeper extending through said opening whereby to retain said hand-hold in releasable engagement with said spindle, a tailpiece on said key plug and a shoulder on said keeper in engagement with said tailpiece while said key-operated mechanism is located in said spindle Whereby to inhibit removal of said hand-hold except when said key-operated mechanism is removed from said spindle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,059,695 11/36 Jacobi -224 2,079,583 5/37 Brauning 70-224 3,017,762 1/62 Kubik 70-224 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner. 

1. IN A LOCK COMPRISING A HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY WHICH INCLUDES A HAND-HOLD, A HOLLOW SPINDLE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HAND-HOLD, AND A KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM POSITIONED WITHIN AID HOLLWO SPINDLE, A RETAINING SHOULDER WITHIN SAID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY, A KEY PLUG ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM, CAM MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM AND RESPONSIVE TO OPERATION BY A KEY, SAID CAM MEANS BEING EXTENDABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RETAINING SHOULDER WHEREBY TO RETAIN SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM IN RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITHIN SAID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY AND ALTERNATIVELY ENABLING RELEASE OF SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM FROM SAID RETAINING SHOULDER FOR REMOVAL FROM SAID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY, A KEEPER MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SPINDLE, A CUTOUT ON SAID HAND-OUT, A PORTION OF SAID KEEPER EXTENDING INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SPINDLE, SAID HAND-HOLD IN RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SPINDLE, A PORTION OF SAID KEY PLUG BEING IN BLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID KEEPER WHILE SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM IS LOCATED WITHIN SAID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY WHEREBY TO INHIBIT REMOVAL OF SAID HAND-HOLD EXCEPT WHEN SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM IS REMOVED FROM SAID HAND-HOLD ASSEMBLY. 